MIAA Game Recap: Malden Catholic vs. Oliver Ames

Malden Catholic, the top overall seed in the Division 2 state tournament, held off a talented Oliver Ames squad to advanced to the state championship for the fourth year in a row.   Oliver Ames, the 4th seed in the tournament, came out firing behind the arc and seemingly had an answer every time that Malden Catholic got close, closing out the half with a 31-25 lead.   The second half was a back and fourth game, with Malden Catholic eventually tying the game in the game's final minute. An Oliver Ames basket was answered by a Malden Catholic layup in the closing seconds, sending the game to overtime.   The extra period featured multiple lead changes and was ultimately won at the free throw line as Malden Catholic connected on two free throws with just seconds left to claim at 62-61 victory.   With the win, Malden Catholic (22-1) will have a chance to claim their 4th state title in a row in Saturday's state championship matchup with Somerset Berkley.   Below are five prospects that impressed in last night's game.    Camara, the tallest player on the floor most of the night, had a noticeable physical advantage with his combination of size, length, and athleticism. He used his length to his advantage defensively, blocking multiple shots at the rim while also jumping passing lanes to create steals. Offensively, he did a nice job of running the floor and finishing with length at the rim. However, he might've impressed most with his ability to make plays off the bounce on the perimeter. With a quick first step and the ability to handle the ball like a guard, he was able to get into the paint and kick out to shooters for open threes.     Camara was instrumental to Malden Catholic keeping the game close in the second half as he provided them with a dynamic, ball-handling guard that could get into the teeth of the defense. His ability to break down a defense off the bounce stood out as he continuously put pressure on the rim, often drawing the help defender and kicking it out to teammates spoting up for open threes. Defensively, he played great on-ball defense, moving his feet to keep the ball in front of him and generating plenty of deflections with his quick hands.     Gaffney had a quiet night, by his standards, for the first three quarters, but when winning time came, he took full advantage of his opportunities. Early on, he let the game come to him and operated mostly as a ball-handler against pressure and distributor in the half-court. Late in the game, when Malden Catholic needed a basket, he answered the call multiple times. He made a couple of perimeter jumpers, one coming from almost NBA range, and got into the paint off the bounce over and over, relying on a fadeaway jumper and soft touch to score over the defense. He really impressed with his ability to play at different speeds, utilize his pivot game, and keep the defense off balance with shot fakes.     Craffey, at different times in the game, was the most dominant player on the floor. A big, physical guard with the ability to score at multiple levels, he repeatedly got to the rim where he was able to score through contact with either hand. He showed the ability to handle the ball and even impressed by creating space off his dribble in isolation situations, leading to made mid-range jumpers. Defensively, he guarded multiple positions and used his frame to his advantage as a rebounder. Once he got the ball off the glass, he was in attack mode in transition, which led to a few easy baskets for Oliver Ames.     Sorinmade stood out with his two way ability last night, making big shots on one end and applying great ball pressure on the other end. His primary task was to guard Gaffney and for the majority of the night he did a great job. Even when Gaffney scored, he had to earn everything as Sorinmade used his lateral quickness to stay in front of him and his athleticism to challenge every shot. Offensively, he made a few threes early and that seemed to open things up for his teammates as drivers. While his shot stopped falling in the second half, he showed the ability to operate as a primary ball-handler that could handle against pressure. Late in the game, he made a few high level reads off the bounce and proved to be an advanced passer that could find cutters on the move with one handed bounce passes.

Malden Catholic, the top overall seed in the Division 2 state tournament, held off a talented Oliver Ames squad to advanced to the state championship for the fourth year in a row.